Translating Bed Sizes

What
a crazy world we sleep in!

Most
modern manufacturers have come to agree on certain
guidelines and principles in the design and sizing
of beds and mattresses. However, there is always that
international barrier to overcome when it comes to
sizing. Manufacturers in the United States, Australia,
the UK/Ireland and Europe all seem to have different
sizes when it comes to mattresses. I'm sure it makes
it difficult when our friends from across the pond
travel or take up residence in the United States only
to find our bedding and sheets are quite unfamiliar.
In this article we'll examine the many variations
of bed sizes and offer this article up as a guide
to help our overseas friends figure out and translate
our sizes into theirs.

Twin or Single Bed

United
States (Twin)

Australia
(Twin)

UK
/ Ireland (Twin)

Europe

39
x 75 in.

36
x 75 in.

36
x 75 in.

35
x 79 in.

97
x 191 cm

91
x 191 cm

91
x 191 cm

90
x 200 cm

Twin
or Single size as it is commonly referred to seems
to be a pretty standard size in the bedding industry
world wide. You'll find that the American twin size
mattress is only 6 cm wider than an Australian twin
or a UK/ Ireland twin bed. It's 7 cm wider than a
European twin mattress. The standard American twin
bed is the same length as an Australian or UK / Ireland
beds. However these beds are shorter than the European
twin bed by 9 cm.

Double
or Full Bed

United
States (Double)

Australia
(Double)

UK
/ Ireland (Double)

Europe

54
x 75 in.

54
x 75 in.

54
x 75 in.

55
x 79 in.

137
x 191 cm

137
x 191 cm

137
x 191 cm

140
x 200 cm

Double or Full size beds as they are often refereed
to. If the United States, Australia, UK and Ireland
can agree on one thing, it would be that our double
and full size beds are definitely the same. European
full beds are 3 cm wider and 9 cm longer than American
full size beds.

Queen
or (UK/Ireland King)

United
States (Queen)

Australia
(Queen)

UK
/ Ireland (King)

Europe

60
x 80 in.

60
x 80 in.

60
x 78 in.

63
x 79 in.

152
x 203 cm

152
x 203 cm

152
x 198 cm

160
x 200 cm

Queen
size beds as they are refereed to in the United States
share the same size with Australian queen size mattresses.
The UK / Ireland mattress close in this size is actually
refereed to as a King size there. Europe does not
have a designation for this size and would most likely
be refereed to as a 160 cm wide mattress. The UK /Ireland
King bed is shorter by 4 cm than the Australian and
American queen size bed. European beds are wider than
American beds in this size by 8 cm but slightly shorter
by 1 cm.

King
or (UK/Ireland Super King)

United
States (King)

Australia
(King)

UK
/ Ireland (Super King)

Europe

76
x 80 in.

72
x 80 in.

72
x 78 in.

71
x 79 in.

193
x 203 cm

183
x 203 cm

183
x 198 cm

180
x 200 cm

King
size beds as they are called in the United States
are favorably similar to other bed sizes around the
world. The UK / Ireland and Australian sizes are 10
cm less wide. The European size is 13 cm less wide.
United States king mattresses and Australian mattresses
are the same length. The UK / Ireland Super King is
only 5 cm shorter and the European bed is 3 cm shorter
than a standard United States king mattress. Overall
these mattresses are all very close in size.

Bedding
industries whether they be North American or in Europe
always offer some sizes that are not considered standard
by many. However there is a market for these mattresses
and that is the reason they stick around. Below are
some of these sizes and how they stack up against
different beds and mattresses.

Other
Sizes - United States

United
States (Twin XL)

United
States (Full XL)

United
States (Cal King)

39
x 80 in.

54
x 80 in.

72
x 84 in.

97
x 203 cm

137
x 203 cm

183
x 213 cm

Twin
extra long or Twin XL beds are basically a longer
single bed in the United States. Australia has a bed
close in size to this refereed to as a Single Extra
Long which is the same length but 5 cm less wide.
The American full extra long or Full XL beds are very
close in size to the New Zealand long double bed which
is the same length wise but 2 cm less wide. The California
king mattress is actually a size from the old waterbed
industry that has declined since the 1990's. However
there were many bedroom sets made to this size and
people still purchase replacement innerspring or memory
foam mattresses for these beds. There are also new
products being sold in this size which has given it
a new life in the bed industry.

Other
Sizes - UK (United Kingdom)

UK
(Small Single)

UK
(Super Single)

UK
(Small Double)

30
x 75 in.

42
x 75 in.

48
x 78 in.

76.2
x 190.5 cm

106.68
x 190.5 cm

121.92
x 198.12 cm

The
United States doesn't really have any small single
beds. The closest here would be considered an army
size cot. The UK Super Single bed however is very
close in size to the American twin size bed and is
9 cm wider than that bed. The UK small double bed
is comparable to the United States full extra long
bed. Dimensionally it is a little smaller but would
be the closest size to the American full xl bed.

Other
Sizes - European

Europe
(Extra Small Single)

Europe
(Small Single)

Europe
(Large Single)

30
x 79 in.

31
x 79 in.

39
x 79 in.

76.2
x 200 cm

80
x 200 cm

100
x 200 cm

For
United States readers, modern European standards for
referring to a bed are done by its dimensions rather
than by a name. For example you would say a mattress
80 cm x 200 cm or .8 m x 2 m rather than saying a
small single mattress. Unfortunately the United States
does not offer sizes of beds in these widths through
the mainstream bedding industry. The large single
or the 100 x 200 cm mattress is very close dimensionally
to the United States twin extra long mattress. That
would be the closest comparable bed or mattress to
this size and would be a good fit.